I want to regularly play for India and focus on processes: Mukesh Kumar

Mukesh Kumar has had a fairytale 2023, first getting picked by the Delhi Capitals for Rs 5.5 crore ahead of the IPL 2023, followed by a call-up to the Indian side for the tour of the West Indies where he made his debut in all three formats of the game. The medium-fast bowler has been picked for the five-T20I series against Australia, too. He spoke exclusively to JioCinema recently. Excerpts from the interview.

Talk us through your cricketing journey.

My family would stay in Kolkata but I wouldn’t stay there. I would keep travelling to play tennis ball cricket which would fetch me about Rs 500 per match. Then suddenly there was a phase when my father insisted that I should stay with the family. I was looking for a job and my father asked me to look out for cricketing opportunities in Kolkata. I got a chance to play in the First Division after giving trials. We did not have that much money for me to purchase a full kit. So, I remember I got a couple of pair of shoes from Debu da (the club owner) when I went for trials. I started bowling wearing those. I used to bat also earlier, but I shifted my focus to bowling because of the lack of money.

How did you find out that Delhi Capitals had bought you in the IPL auction?

I had gone to Bangladesh with the India ‘A’ team. There, I suffered a hamstring injury. I was in NCA. I was in the hotel and was speaking to my family. The TV was switched off. Then I suddenly got a call from a friend congratulating me. I switched on the TV and figured that teams were bidding for me. I immediately called my mother and told her. (Mukesh went to DC for Rs 5.5 crore in the IPL 2023 auctions). The feeling was really special because even my father used to hope that I would get a chance to play IPL. But he was not around anymore. My mother began weeping, saying if father was around, he would have been thrilled.

Lessons learned from playing the IPL?

I think IPL produces the toughest matches. All teams are filled with international players and that too, they are amongst the best. To play on this stage is really very tough and a very good experience for me. As far as the role of Ishant Bhaiya (Sharma) is concerned, he supported me a lot. He explained my role in the team very clearly, so I just wanted to be honest with what I was expected to do.

What were you doing when you learned about your international call-up?

I was going to Baba Dham (in Deoghar, Jharkhand) with my mother. There was an offering she wanted to make there. I got a call from the selectors that I had been selected. I was really happy to hear this.

Any advice you got from the Indian players on your international debut?

When I first saw my India teammates, my mind stopped functioning briefly. I thought these were the players I watched on TV till yesterday and today I was getting a chance to warm up and share the dressing room with them. Virat bhai (Kohli) told me I was bowling well. Rohit, too, came and spoke to me when the practice matches were going on and gave suggestions.

Have you set any goals for the coming years?

I want to regularly play for my country. So that will be my first achievement. The other thing I want is to continue focussing on the processes. I am seeing the results of sticking to them today. So, I want to keep focusing and moving forward.